The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-16
ganized the Democracy Can it not find
other things to engage its attention as an
exponent Of Democratic principle and policy?
PROFESSOR SWINGS SUGGESTION.

PROFESSOR SWINGS SUGGESTION.
Now that the Congregational ministers of
Chicago have redeemed themselves by recon
sidering their determination not to condole
with Mrs Beecher for fear that such action
might compromise them theologically, it is
perhaps unkind to refer to the subject again.
However, one more allusion can hardly mat
ter. They did not want the affair TO get into
the papers in the first place; but having got
in and attracted great deal of attention,
reference more or less at this stage of the pro-
ceedings can neither mitigate nor increase
their misery. Professor Swing, possibly,
would have said nothing had he waited until
after they had finally decided to condole with
the bereaved; but he did not wait Professor
Swing having freed himself from sectarian
limitations some time since, may be thought
by his late brethren to be taking undue
advantage of his liberty when he turns and
SCOTS at them for their little foibles; but when
the pastor of the Central Music Hall has
habit of airing them without ceremony.
Professor Swing is of the opinion that there
ought to be an equalizing board for clergy
men. In emergencies like that arising from
the death of Beecher, where a decision must
be suddenly reached in department of action
| not marked out by the footsteps of illustrous
- ~ &c u,
body as board Of proprieties, to which the
ministers could resort for light would be
| highly appreciated 'From such court Of
appeal" he says, "great light and great COM
| fort could come in moments when the massive
but careworn intellect of the ministerial form
of humanity should find itself in the presence
Of an inquiry upon whose answer hung the
fate of the gospel and thus of the world" In
the establishment of such board great care
must be used that only those well qualified to
decide fine points of ecclesiastical policy be
commissioned to serve.
"No mind but the female mind" thinks
Professor Swing lean tell us what kind of
| flowers should be placed on the coffin of man
who believed in sprinkling as compared with
those blossoms which should decorate the
burial casket of an INNER sionist An expert
only could tell whether dispatch of SYM
pathy might be sent to the family of public
man who had been great patriot, but a poor
poet; whether the dispatch could distinguish
between the patriotic success of the man. any
valuable service he may have rendered his
country, and the verses he may at some time
could be so worded as to carry some comfort
to bereaved family and yet not bring hope
less ruin to the denomination which may have
sent the dispatch. Must not the result at both
ends of dispatch be taken into ACCOUNT
The more he contemplates the straits to
which his Acknowledgment are sometimes
driven by the exigencies of their creeds, the
more the emancipated pastor is moved with
compassion, and the stronger seems to him
the necessity of relief MAY the time soon
come" he says, 'when grave bodies of men,
composed of graduates of colleges and Of
doctors of divinity or philosophy, may be able
to possess some wade mecum, or some board Of
appeals, which may give forms of coincidence
to be sent to this or that kind of sufferer
forms which will preserve the proprieties and
will convey to the widow of a man who
preached infant baptism form of sympathy
which will not entangle into the same dogma
the heart that sends the sympathy" The
sensitive Congregational clergymen of Chi
cago may feel that Mr.. Swing gibes at them
but they should not reject sympathy wher
Offered. They may rest assured that their
ex-Presbyterian associate will not hesitate
y when the occasion arises to extend condo
lences to their respective families regardless
of the effect such action may have upon hi
! own theological standing.
| Nryr Avn, ND =, l..